Places & Sights

Thamel began as a medieval site of Buddhist learning, later became a neigbourhood of villas for Kathmandu’s well-off, but was transformed in the 1970s by the arrival of the hippies and budget tourism.

Thamel first became popular during the 1970s and 1980s when hippie culture appeared in Kathmandu. Unconventional travellers, living out of their backpacks, arrived in the Nepalese capital in hordes, and many of them made Thamel their resident hub while in the city. Over the decades Thamel turned into a bustling centre of the tourist industry, a place where everyone from Dharma-seekers to trekkers could feel at home.

Jyatha Tole is off the main Thamel area. It has a mix of many hotels and restaurants offering diverse cuisines ranging from Continental to Chinese.

Kathmandu Durbar Square is a 14 minute walk from Hotel Utse. It is a lovely walk through the by-lanes of Ason Tole.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the three Durbar (Royal Palace) squares in Kathmandu Valley.

This square is a culturally important site and a testament to the rich heritage of Nepal.

There is a Temple located in Durbar Square called Kumari Bahal. This Malla-era Temple is the residence of the Kumari – a young girl worshipped as the living embodiment of the Hindu Goddess Durga.

It is a must-visit for everyone. Though the 2015 Earthquake did destroy some of the structures; but many of them have been rebuilt using what was historically used in terms of the same materials and building techniques.

Kathesimbu Stupa is within 7 minutes’ walk from Hotel Utse.

Kathe Swayambhu Shree Gha Cha Chaitya is a miniature replica of Swayambhunath. It is believed that people especially older ones who are unable to walk till Swayambhunath would get the same spiritual benefit by going here.

The lanes leading up to it are also lined with shops on both sides selling Buddhist religious items. There are also shops selling traditional Tibetan and Bhutanese clothing. You do get the best bargains here and you need to bargain.